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United States Patent |
5,081,742
|
Kobayashi
|
January 21, 1992
|
Hinge device having mechanism for stopping movable member at open
position
Abstract
A hinge device comprising a shaft to be connected at one end to a first
member, a bracket mounted on the shaft, for supporting a second member
such that the second member rotates around said shaft, and wave washers
held and compressed between said shaft and said support means. The wave
washers generates a friction between said shaft and the second member when
the first and second members are rotated relative to each other around
said shaft, thus suppressing the rotation of the first and second members.
Inventors:
|
Kobayashi; Takaichi (Itsukaichi, JP)
|
Assignee:
|
Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Kawasaki, JP)
|
Appl. No.:
|
542119 |
Filed:
|
June 22, 1990 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
Current U.S. Class: |
16/337; 16/342; 361/681 |
Intern'l Class: |
E05D 007/00 |
Field of Search: |
16/337,342
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
1734005 | Oct., 1929 | Chambers | 16/337.
|
4018104 | Apr., 1977 | Bland et al. | 16/342.
|
4571456 | Feb., 1986 | Paulsen et al.
| |
4730364 | Mar., 1988 | Tat-Kee | 16/337.
|
Foreign Patent Documents |
99111 | Jun., 1984 | JP.
| |
280925 | May., 1952 | CH | 16/342.
|
Primary Examiner: Spruill; Robert L.
Assistant Examiner: Cuda; Carmine
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Cushman, Darby & Cushman
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A hinge device for rotatably connecting first and second sections of an
apparatus, the hinge device comprising:
a shaft comprising:
first and second ends, the first end being connected to the first section;
and
first and second portions, the first portion having a diameter greater than
a diameter of the second portion, the first portion cooperating with the
second portion to form an edge;
means, connected to the second section, for supporting the second section,
the supporting means being rotatably connected to the second portion of
the shaft; and
ring-shaped spring means, compressed between the edge and the supporting
means, for generating friction between the first edge and the supporting
means to suppress rotation of the supporting means around the shaft when
the supporting means is rotatably moved.
2. The hinge device according to claim 1, wherein the ring-shaped spring
means comprises at least one wave washer.
3. The hinge device according to claim 1, wherein the ring-shaped spring
means comprises a plurality of wave washers stacked, one upon another, in
an axial direction of said shaft.
4. The hinge device according to claim 1, wherein the ring-shaped spring
means comprises a plurality of wave washers stacked, one upon another, in
an axial direction of said shaft.
5. The hinge device according to claim 1, wherein the supporting means
includes a bracket fastened to the second section.
6. A hinge device as in claim 5, wherein the bracket comprises:
a first support piece rotatably disposed on the shaft;
a second support piece rotatably disposed on the shaft at a predetermined
distance away from the first support piece; and
means for connecting the first and second support pieces and for removably
connecting to the second section.
7. The hinge device according to claim 6 wherein each of the first and
second support pieces has a through hole, the shaft being rotatably
inserted in the through holes of said support pieces.
8. A hinge device as in claim 7, further comprising a screw, connected to
the second end of the shaft, for rotatably securing the shaft to the first
support piece and for maintaining a predetermined distance between the
first support piece and the edge, a head of the screw being larger than a
diameter of the through hole of the first support piece.
9. A hinge device as in claim 1 further comprising a plain washer having an
outer diameter larger than the diameter of the first portion, the plain
washer being disposed between the edge and the ring-shaped spring means.
10. A hinge device as in claim 1, wherein the first portion of the shaft
comprises a flange portion at the edge, the flange portion having an outer
diameter larger than the diamter of the first portion.
11. A hinge device for rotatably connecting a first and second section of
an apparatus, the hinge device comprising:
a shaft comprising:
first and second ends, the first end being connected to the first section;
and
first and second portions, the first portion having a diameter greater than
a diameter of the second portion, the first portion cooperating with the
second portion to form an edge;
a bracket rotatably connected to the second portion of the shaft, the
bracket supporting and being connected to the second section thereby
enabling the second section to be movably rotated around the shaft; and
spring means, compressed and disposed between the edge and the bracket, for
generating friction between the edge and the bracket to suppress the
rotation of the bracket when the bracket is rotatably moved around the
shaft.
12. A portable computer comprising:
a base unit including a keyboard and a shaft supporter;
a display unit rotatably connected to the base unit, the display unit
having a bracket connecting section, the display unit being rotatable
between a first position for covering the keyboard and a second position
for operating the computer;
a shaft comprising:
first and second ends, the first end being connected to the shaft
supporter; and
first and second portions, the first portion having a diameter greater than
a diameter of the second portion, the first portion cooperating with the
second portion to form an edge;
a bracket removably attached to the bracket connecting section and being
rotatably connected to the second portion;
spring means, compressed and disposed between the edge and the bracket, for
generating friction between the bracket and the edge to suppress rotation
of the display unit when the display unit is rotated between the first
position and the second position.
13. A portable computer as in claim 12, further comprises means, removably
connected to the second end of the shaft, for maintaining a predetermined
distance between the bracket and the edge.
14. a portable computer as in claim 12, wherein the maintaining means
comprises a screw removably connected to the second end of the shaft.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hinge device for use in a portable
apparatus such as a lap-top or portable personal computer and more
particularly to a hinge device having a mechanism for stopping a movable
member of the apparatus at an open position, by virtue of the frictional
force exerted by a spring member.
2. Description of the Related Art
U.S Pat. No. 4,571,456 discloses a portable personal computer which
comprises a rectangular case, a keyboard attached to the case, and a
display unit attached to the case by a hinge.
Connected by the hinge to the case, the display unit can rotate between a
position (hereinafter referred to as "closed position") where it covers
the keyboard and a position (hereinafter referred to as "opened position")
where it stands upright at the rear of the keyboard. The hinge includes a
mechanism which exerts a frictional force to stop the display unit at any
position between the closed position and the open position.
A hinge having such a mechanism and designed to connect a display unit to
the case of a personal computer is disclosed in Published Unexamined
Japanese Patent Application No. 59-99111. This hinge comprises a shaft and
a coil spring wound around the shaft. The shaft is fastened at one end to
the display unit and at the other end to the case. As the display unit is
rotated upward, the coil spring is wound more and more tightly around the
shaft, whereby a frictional force is generated between the shaft and the
coil spring. By virtue of this force, the display unit is held up at a
position where the user takes his or her hand off the display unit,
provided that the hinge shaft and the coil spring have a proper outside
diameter and an appropriate inside diameter, respectively, and are set at
correct positions. It requires much time and labor to make the shaft and
the spring with sufficient precision and to set them in a correct
positional relationship. consequently, the manufacturing cost of the hinge
is inevitably high.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide a hinge device whose
components need not be machined or positioned with high-precision, and
which is therefore easy to manufacture.
According to the invention, there is provided a hinge device comprising: a
shaft to be connected at one end to a first member; support means, mounted
on the shaft, for supporting a second member such that the second member
rotates around the shaft; and ring-shaped spring means held and compressed
between the shaft and the support means, for generating a friction between
said shaft and said support means when the first and second members are
rotated relative to each other around the shaft, thereby to suppress the
rotation of the first and second members.
The ring-shaped spring means can easily be incorporated in the hinge device
when pushed into the gap between the shaft and the support means. Once
incorporated, the ring-shaped spring means can exert a frictional force
between the shaft and the support means. Unlike the coil spring used in
the conventional hinge described above, the spring means need not be
machined or positioned with high precision.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the
description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the
description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects
and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of
the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the
appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part
of the specification, illustrate presently preferred embodiments of the
invention, and together with the general description given above and the
detailed description of the preferred embodiments given below, serve to
explain the principles of the invention.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a personal computer having a
hinge device according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a sectional view schematically showing a hinge device according
to a first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view, taken along line III--III in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is an exploded view illustrating the hinge device shown in FIG. 2:
FIG. 5 is a plan view of the hinge device shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 6 consists of a perspective view showing a part of the case of the
computer and an exploded view showing hinge mechanism for connecting a
display unit to the case;
FIG. 7 is a sectional view schematically showing how the the housing and
display unit of the personal computer are coupled to each other;
FIG. 8 is an exploded view showing the leg section which supports the
display unit;
FIG. 9 is another sectional view, explaining how the cable is guided from
the housing into the display unit through the hinge device shown in FIGS.
6 and 7;
FIG. 10 is a sectional view, taken along line X--X in FIG. 7;
FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing the shaft and other components of the
hinge device shown in FIGS. 6 and 7;
FIG. 12 is a partially sectional, side view of the display unit;
FIG. 13 is a plan view showing a hinge device according to a second
embodiment of the invention; and
FIG. 14 is a plan view illustrating a hinge device according to a third
embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1 illustrates a lap-top or portable personal computer 1. The computer
1 has a case 2 made of a synthetic resin and is shaped like a thin
rectangular box comprising a bottom case 3 which is covered by a top cover
4. A keyboard 5 is attached to the front half of the top cover 4. The
rearmost part of the half of the top cover 4 is thicker than the front
most part of the rear half. Two recesses 6a and 6b are formed in the
front-left and -right portions of the rear half of the top cover 4,
respectively. As is shown in FIG. 7, a printed circuit board 7, on which
are mounted a number of circuit parts (not shown), is incorporated in the
case 2.
As is illustrated in FIG. 1, the computer 1 further comprises a flat-panel
type display unit 8 located at the rear of the keyboard 5. The display
unit 8 comprises a rectangular housing 9 and a flat liquid-crystal display
11 located within the housing 9. The housing 9 is composed of a base panel
10a and a front panel 10b, both shaped like a rectangular plate. These
panels 10a and 10b are fastened together, by means of screws (not shown)
at their four corners. The liquid-crystal display 11, which has a screen
12, is inter posed between the panels 10a and 10b. The screen 12 is
exposed through the rectangular opening 13 made in the front panel 10b .
As is evident from FIG. 1, the display unit 8 is attached to the case 2
such that it rotate between a position (hereinafter referred to as "closed
position") where it covers the keyboard 6 and a position (herein after
referred to as "opened position") where it stands upright at the rear of
the keyboard 5. The display unit 8 covers the entire keyboard 5 when it is
rotated to the closed position. As long as the unit 8 remains in the
closed position, its top is at the same level as the upper surface of the
top cover 4, and its left and right sides are level with those of the top
cover 4. In this condition, the case 2 and the display unit 8 form a
relatively thin box which is quite portable.
As is shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, a pair of leg sections 15a and 15b protrude
from the lower-left and lower-right portions of the housing 9, with their
lower ends located in the recesses 6a and 6b of the case 2. The leg
section 15a and 15b will henceforth be described in detail.
As is evident from FIG. 6, the leg section 15a is formed of a rear leg
segment 16 protruding from the base panel 10a and being integral
therewith, and a front leg segment 17 removably fastened to the front of
the rear leg segment 16. As FIG. 6 clearly shows, the front leg segment 17
has a claw 18 projecting from the side which connects to the rear leg
segment 16. The claw 18 is positioned so that it engages the lock hole 19
formed in the inner side of the rear leg segment 16, with respect to the
display unit 8, whereby the segments 16 and 17 are fastened together,
forming the leg section 15a. The leg segments 16 and 17, thus fastened
together, define a guide path 20.
The front leg segment 17 also has a guide portion 21 for guiding a cable
into the housing 9. The guide portion 21 has a communication port 22 at
its tip. The port 22 opens to the interior of the housing 9, thus allowing
the guide path 20 to communicate with the interior of the housing 9. The
segment 17 further has a fixing tongue piece 24 which is attached to the
guide portion 21 and aligns with the boss 23 protruding from the base
panel 10a, and has a positioning hole 25. A positioning projection 26,
protruding from the base panel 10a, is inserted in the hole 25, thereby
aligning the front leg segment 17 with respect to the rear leg segment 16.
As a result of this, the leg segments 16 and 17 are firmly connected by
means of a screw 27 set in screw 27 engagement with the boss 23, thus
forming the leg section 15a.
As is illustrated in FIG. 8, the stepped portion of the front leg segment
17, which is continuous to the guide portion 21, has a hole 28 opening
into the interior of the leg segment 17. A tongue piece 29. protruding
from the front panel 10b, is inserted in the hole 28, thus positioning the
front panel 10b with respect to the base panel 10a.
As may be understood from FIG. 6, the leg segments 16 and 17 have,
respectively half-cylinders 31a and 31b, which are situated on the outer
sides and connected to each other. The half-cylinders 31a and 31b define
U-shaped notches 30a and 30b. These half-cylinders 31a and 31b form a
hollow shaft 32 having a guide path 33. The guide path 33 communicates
with the guide path 20 defined by the leg segments 16 and 17.
As is best shown in FIG. 6, the half-cylinder 31a of the rear leg segment
16 has two arcuate projections 34a and 34b opposing each other and
extending into the front leg segment 17. Thus, as is illustrated in FIG.
12, the distance L1 between the tips of the arcuate projections 34a and
34b is shorter than the inside diameter L2 of the hollow shaft 32.
The leg section 15a of the housing 9 extends into the recess 6a of the case
2. As is evident from FIG. 6, an opening 38 is formed in the recess 6a.
This opening 38 consists of two sections 39 and 40. The section 39 is cut
in the outermost of the two opposing side walls which define the inner and
outer faces of the recess 6a with respect to the case 2, and the section
40 is made in the face which defines the bottom of the recess 6a. The
upper edge of the section 39, or receiving section 41, is arcuate, so that
the shaft 32 is rotatably fitted in the opening 38.
A support 43, which is made of a synthetic resin, is located in the opening
38, extending from below the top cover 4. The support 43 is fastened to
the wall defining the bottom of the recess 6a, and consists of a side wall
44 and a bottom 45 which are fitted in the sections 39 and 40 of the
opening 38, respectively, and two flanges 46, connected to the front and
rear edges of the section 39, and fastened to the bosses 47 which protrude
downward from the inner surface of the top cover 4, by means of screws 48.
An arcuate notch 50, into which the shaft 32 is rotatably fitted, is cut in
the upper edge of the side wall 44, so as to oppose the receiving section
41 in the case 2, and this notch 50 and the section 41 form a circular
hole 51, through which the shaft 32 rotatably extends. A guide wall 52,
which is taller than the side wall 44 and also has an arcuate notch, is
formed integral with the wall 44.
The hole 51 communicates with the guide path 20 formed in the leg section
15a through the guide path 33 formed in the shaft 32. Hence, the guide
paths 20 and 33 and the hole 51 connects the interior of the case 2 to
that of the housing 9, and a cable 53 extends through the paths 20 and 33
and the hole 51, thus electrically connecting the printed circuit board 7
to the liquid-crystal display 11. The cable 53 is flexible, and has
connectors 54a and 54b attached to its ends, as is shown in FIG. 7. The
connectors 54a and 54b are elongated members than the hole 51. The
connector 54a extends into the case 2 and is connected to the printed
circuit board 7, and the connector 54b extends into the housing 9 and is
connected to the liquid-crystal display 11.
It will now be explained how the cable 53 is guided from the case 2 into
the housing 9 of the display unit 8, with display unit 8 disconnected from
case 2.
First, the front panel 10b and the front leg segment 17 are removed from
the base panel 10a of the housing 9. Also, the top cover 4 is detached
from the bottom case 3. Further, the support 43 is removed from the top
cover 4, thus allowing access to the interior of the case 2 through the
opening 38 which is, as is shown in FIG. 6, formed in the left of the two
opposing side walls which define the left and right faces of the recess
6a, and the the wall which define the bottom of the recess 6a. The opening
38 is larger than the connector 54a to be attached to the printed circuit
board 7. That end portion of the cable 53 to which the connector 54a is
connected is inserted into the case 2 through the opening 38.
Next, the support 43 is fitted into the opening 38 from within the top
cover 4, with the cable 53 rested in the U-notch 50 of the support 42. The
flanges 46 of the support 43 are then fastened to the bosses 47 by screws
48. As a result, the support 43 is secured to the housing 9, whereby the
U-notch 50 of the support 43 and the receiving section 41 of the top cover
4 define the hole 51, and the cable 53 passes through this hole 51.
Then, the cable 53 is pushed into the half-cylinder 31a of the rear leg
segment 16, more precisely into the gap between the arcuate projections
34a and 34b. Once the cable 53 is thus pushed into the half-cylinder 31a,
it can hardly slip out of it since the distance L2 between the tips of the
arcuate projections 34a and 34b is shorter than the inside diameter L1 of
the hollow shaft 32. The rear leg segment 16 is inserted into the recess
6a, thus fitting cylinder 31a into the hole 51.
Thereafter, the cable 53 is guided through the rear leg segment 16 to a
position above the base panel 10a. This done, the front leg section 17 is
fastened to the rear leg section 16 by means of the screw 27, thus fitting
the half-cylinder 31b into the hole 51. The half-cylinders 31a and 31b
form the hollow shaft 32 having the guide path 33, through which the cable
53 extends into the housing 9 of the display unit 8. Thus, the cable 53 is
guided from the case 2 into the housing 9 through the leg section 15a.
As is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the leg section 15b of the housing 9 is
composed of a rear leg segment 60 formed so as to be integral with the
base panel 10a and a front leg segment 61 formed so as to be integral with
the front panel 10b, and is similar to the leg section 15a in structure.
The leg section 15b extends horizontally longer than the leg section 15a,
and contains a pair of hinge mechanisms 62, which support the housing 9
such that it can be rotated upward from the other case 2 and downward
thereto.
The first and second hinge mechanisms are located in the inner and outer
ends of the leg section 15b, respectively. The hinge mechanism 62 is
designed not only to support the housing 9, but also to hold it at any
position between the closed position and the opened position. The hinge
mechanisms 62 are identical in structure, and only one of them will,
therefore, be described in detail with reference to FIG. 5.
As is illustrated in FIG. 5, either hinge mechanism 62 has a straight shaft
63 and a bracket 64 made of metal and supporting the shaft 63. The bracket
64 comprises a pair of support pieces 65a and 65b spaced apart in the
axial direction of the shaft 63, and a fixing section 66 connecting these
pieces 65a and 65b. The support pieces 65a and 65b each have a hole 67,
and are so positioned that the holes 67 are coaxial. The ends of the shaft
63 are rotatably supported in these holes 67.
The left end of shaft 63 has a screw hole, and a screw 72 is inserted in
this hole, with a plain washer 70 and a spring washer 71 interposed
between it and the left end of the shaft 63. The plain washer 70, the
spring washer 71, and the head 72a of the screw 72 have diameters larger
than those of holes 67. Hence, the plain washer 70 abuts on the outer side
of support piece 65a, whereby the washers 70 and 71 and the screw 72
prevent the shaft 63 from slipping from the hinge mechanism 62.
The shaft 63 consists of three portions, i.e., a thick portion 73a and two
thin portions 73b extending from the ends of the portion 73a. The first
thin portion 73b is inserted in the hole 67 of the support pieces 65b, and
the second thin portion 73b is inserted in the hole 67 of the support
piece 65a. A plain washer 75 having an outside diameter larger than the
diameter of the thick portion 73a is mounted on the thin portion Two wave
washers 77 having an outside diameter substantially the same as the
diameter of the thick portion 73a are mounted on the thin portion 73b and
compressed between the plain washer 75 and the support piece 65a of the
bracket 64. The two wave washers 77, which function as springs, abut on
the plain washer 75 and the support piece 65a, respectively. A friction
force is thereby generated between the plain washer 75 and the bracket 64,
restricting the rotation of the shaft 63 which is supported by the bracket
64.
In this embodiment, two wave washers 77 are used to restrict the rotation
of the shaft 63. Alternatively, one wave washer, or three or more wave
washers may be used for the same purpose in the present invention.
As is shown in FIG. 2, two pairs of bosses 80 protrude from the inner
surface of the rear leg segment 60. The fixing sections 66 of the first
and second hinge mechanisms 62 are fastened to the first and second pairs
of bosses 80, respectively, by means of screws 81, whereby both hinge
mechanisms 62 are coupled to the housing 9. As is shown in FIG. 3, one of
the screws 81 which fasten either fixing section 66 to the bosses 80
passes through the hole cut in the front leg segment 61, and thus fastens
the front leg segment 61 to the rear leg segment 60. A decoration cover 82
is removably connected to the front leg segment 61, thus concealing the
heads 81a of the screws 81.
As is illustrated in FIG. 2, one of the thin portions 73b of either shaft
63 extends into case 2 through the hole 85 made in the side wall of case
2. That end 86 of the portion 73b which is located within the case 2 has a
polygonal cross section. The end 86 of the thin portion 73b is fitted in
the corresponding hole 88 made in the support 87 which protrudes downward
from the top wall of case 2. Thus, the shaft 63 of the hinge mechanism 62
cannot rotate.
The display unit 8 has its leg section 15a connected to the case 2 by means
of the shaft 32 held in the hole 51 as is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, and has
its leg section 15b connected to the case 2 by means of the hinge
mechanisms 62 as is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The unit 8 is thus rotatably
supported on the case 2.
It will now be explained how either hinge mechanisms 62 operate to hold the
display unit 8 at any desired position between the closed position and the
opened position.
When the display unit 8 is rotated from the closed position toward the
opened position, the bracket 64 of the mechanism 62, which is fastened to
the base panel 10a, rotates around the shaft 63, allowing the unit 8 to
rotated to any position between the closed position and the opened
position, so that the user of the personal computer can see clearly the
data displayed on the liquid-crystal display screen 12.
Since the wave washers 77 are interposed and compressed between the plain
washer 75 mounted on the shaft 63 and the support piece 65a of the bracket
64, a frictional force is generated between the bracket 64 and the plain
washer 75. This force suppresses the rotation of the bracket 64, whereby
the display unit 8 remains at the position where the user takes his or her
hand off the display unit 8.
The two wave washers 77 can easily be incorporated in the hinge mechanism
62, when pushed into the gap between the support piece 65a and the plain
washer 75. Once so incorporated, the washers 77 can exert a frictional
force between the shaft 63 and the bracket 64. Unlike the coil spring used
in the conventional hinge described above, the wave washers 77 need not be
machined with high precision, or positioned in the hinge mechanism 62 with
high precision. Therefore, the hinge mechanism 62 can be manufactured at
lower cost than the conventional hinge.
Further, since the total thickness of the two wave washers 77 is far less
than the length of the coil spring wound around the hinge shaft in the
conventional hinge, the hinge mechanism 62 is much shorter than the
conventional hinge.
FIG. 13 illustrates a hinge mechanism according to a second embodiment of
the invention. This mechanism is different from the first embodiment (FIG.
5), in that a flange 91 is formed integral with the shaft 63, located
between the thick portion 73a and the thin portion 73b, and has a larger
diameter than the thick portion 73a. Two wave washers 77 are mounted on
the thin portion 73b and compressed between the flange 91 and the support
piece 65a of the bracket 64.
FIG. 14 shows a hinge mechanism according to a third embodiment of the
invention, which is identical to the first embodiment (FIG. 5), except
that a bellevill spring 100 is used in place of wave washers.
The hinge device according to the invention can be used, not only in
personal computer, but also in word processors, reclining seats, and the
like.
Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled
in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited
to the specific details, shown and described herein. Accordingly, various
modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of
the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their
equivalents.
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